Dental bite recorder



June 16, 1942.

ML J. LOVER DENTAL BITE RECORDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1941June 16, 1942.

1 DENTAL BITE RECORDER Filed Aug 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. J. LOVER2,286,288

June 16, 1942. LVER 2,286,288-

DENTAL BITE RECORDER Filed Aug. 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet; 3

Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES TET OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to dental appliances.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for obtaining thecorrect impression for either upper or lower plates.

Another object of this invention is to provide an impression carrierwhich is so designed that the true biting position can be accuratelydetermined and obtained, in order that either or both plates can beaccurately made.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bite testing anddetermining apparatus which includes upper and lower impression materialreceiving tray members insertible in unison into the mouth and which arehingedly and movably connected together in such a manner that one traymay be shifted endwise, laterally or radially with respect to the othertray and then secured in its shifted position. In this manner, eitherone or both of the dental plates may be accurately formed from theimpression material for proper positioning in the mouth.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of thiskind an improved means for connecting the upper and lower tray memberstogether so that any desired adjustment thereof may be obtained whilethe said members are positioned in the mouth of the patient, the membersbeing movable by the patient through contact with the jaws.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device by means ofwhich an impression and bite may be obtained in a single operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred tofunctioning substantially as the human mandible does with substantiallythe same degree of accuracy.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred tohaving when used, five distinct bearing points as it may move in unison,forwardly or backwardly in a definite path and act as a rotation center,and by its use an impression and bite may be obtained at the same time.7

A further object of the invention is toprovide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred tohaving a hinged-like movement to a limited extend employed in openingand closing the mouth for the introduction of the appliance.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred tohaving a protrusive movement employed to determine the rearranging orchanging of the position of the mandible to the proper masticationgrooves.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred tohaving provisions for right or left lateral movements, as the condylepaths vary in different individuals, and frequently in the same personin their length, curvature and angular inclination, and because of theseconditions the appliance is so formed that it will provide for recordingevery movement in the mouth of a patient to a degree of accuracy.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred towhich is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement,strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly efficient in theuse intended thereby and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the objects aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the appliance showing the adaptationthereof relative to the simulation of a header a person, the simulationbeing set forth in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is an inverted View of the lower tray member,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the appliance, Figure 4 is a rearelevation of the appliance, Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 4,Figure 6 is an extended View of the appliance looking towards the lowerface of the upper tray member and towards the upper face of the lowertray member.

Figure '7 is a section on line 1-1, Figure 6, Figure 8 is a section online 88, Figure 6, Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in top plan of thelower tray member, with the apertured support for the shank or stem ofthe upper tray member not shown,

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view partly in section of the upper traymember, and

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the apertured support element forminga part of the lower tray member.

The appliance includes a lower tray member or element and an upper traymember or element disposed in superposed relation with respect to thesaid other member or element. The lower and upper members aforesaid aregenerally indicated at !2, l3 respectively. The members l2 and I3constitute, respectively, lower and upper impression material receivingtrays. The member l2 will be of a contour substantially corresponding tothe well known form of the lower impression trays, now generally used indentistry. The member 13 will be of a contour substantiallycorresponding to the well known form of upper impression trays nowgenerally employed by dentists. and width than the length and width ofthe member l3.

The tray member i2 is of inverted channel shape, substantially ofsemi-ovoidal contour inplan, and is formed of two different materials,one of which may be a plastic material or composition, such as hardrubber or Bakelite, and the other a metallic dental material. However ifdesired the tray members l2 and [3 may be made solely out of metallicmaterial. ber I2 is open at its bottom and rear and closed at its sides,top, and front. The major part of the member I2 is formed of plasticmaterial and its remaining portion of metallic material. That part ofplastic material of the member I2 is indicated at M, and the portion ofmetallic material formed of two spaced sections is indicated at The partl4 and the sections l5 are of inverted yoke shape. The part l4 (Figure2) of the member 12 is formed of a base or top wall IS, an innerdepending flange I! integral The member I2 is of greater length Thememat its upper end with and of less length than the inner side edge ofwall l5, and an outer depending fiange l6 integral at its upper end withand corresponding in length to the outer side edge of wall it. The endsof the flange I! are spaced forwardly of the ends of the wall It and theends of the flange E8. The inner sides of the metallic sections l5 formrearward continuations of the flange i3 and lateral inward extensions 2|of the base wall IS.

The outer side 22 and bight 23 of a metallic section l5 (Figure 7) areembedded respectively in the flange l8 and the base wall 16. The saidouter sides 22 (Figure 4) extend downwardly and rearwardly from theflange I8. The bights 23 (Figure 4) extend rearwardly from the base wallIt. Each terminal portion of the wall it has its inner side formed witha cutout 24 (Figure 2) within which is arranged the upper part of aninner side 20 of a section Id. The said upper parts of the inner sides20 of the sections I 5 abut the edges of the cutouts 24. The said innersides 28 not only form rearward continuations oi the flange l? but alsoconstitute stationary hinge members of a pair of hinges. The inner side20 of each section I5 is of greater thickness than the outer side 22 ofthe section and is flush at its bottom edge and outer face with thebottom edge and outer face of the flange 11;

Each inner side 23 of a section l5 (Figure 7) has formed therein andlengthwise thereof a pocket or chamber 25 of oval contour in verticalsection, and also an opening (Figures 5 and '7) lengthwise thereof whichcommunicates with the chamber 25 through the outer side wall of thelatter and opens at the outer face of said outer side 20. The opening 26is of less height than and is disposed centrally with respect to theouter wall of the chamber 25. The opening 26 corresponds in length tothe length of the chamber 25 with which it is correlated. Each chamber25 is for receiving the outer head of a sliding pivot or pintle of ashiftable hinge member for correlation with a stationary hinge member,and the said pivot and shiftable hinge member will be more fullyreferred to.

In forming the inner side 20 this side may be initially formed in twosections 20 and 20 the section 29* being formed with the slot 26. Thesection 20 constitutes a cap for closing the slot 26 and the chamber 25and may be secured to the section 2E! along the dotted line 23 (Figure5) in any suitable manner, it being understood that the metallicsections 252 and 20* are formed from dental metal which is more readilyformed or shaped than other metal.

The tray member 12 has secured to the upper face of the base wall l6(Figures 3, 6, 8 and 9) a pair of upstanding spaced oppositely disposedcurved. open top hollow members 27 for a purpose to be referred to. Theforward ends 23 (Figure 9) 'of the members 21 are open and their rearends 28 closed. The said ends 28 are arranged adjacent to each side ofthe transverse median of the wall [6. The members'Zl constitutesustainers for a supporting element 3% of arcuate contour. The element30 is formed on its front and its face with a pair of oppositelydisposed spaced elongated longitudinally disposed shoulders 31 (Figures8 and 11), each extending from anend of element 30 to a point adjacentthe vertical median of the latter. The element 38 has its front and rearfaces formed with a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding curved steps32 depending from the inner ends of the shoulders 3|. The steps 32 onlyon the front face of element 30 are shown (Figure 11).

The portions 33 of the element 30 below the shoulders 3| and laterallyof the steps 32 are of less thickness (Figures 8 and 11) than theportions of element 30 between the stops 32 and above the shoulders 3 I.When the element 3!] is in position for use, the portions 33 thereof are.extended into the members 21, the shoulders 3| are seated on the upperedges of the walls of said members 21, and the stops 32 bear against theinner ends of the front walls of members 27. By this arrangement, theelement 30 is sustained in upwardly extending relation with respect totray member l2 and is prevented from shifting relative to its sustainingmeans. The element 39 (Figures 1, 5, 6 and 11) at the center of its topedge is formed with a forwardly directed lip 34 provided with inner andouter rows of spaced opening 35, and such element 30 has its frontdirectly below the inner row of openings 35 formed with spaced verticalgrooves 3-5 registering at their upper ends with the rear of suchopenings 35. The purpose of the lip 34, openings 35 and grooves 35 willbe referred to. The element 3D is for correlation with the tray memberl3, when using the appliance, and the manner in which such elementscorrelate with the tray member l3 will be hereinafter set forth.

As heretofore referred to, each inner 'side 20 of a section l5 of thetray member l2 provides a stationary hinge member of a hinge, and thereis correlated with such side 20 a shiftable hinge member of the hinge.The shiftable hinge member is indicated at 31 and consists of an arm 38(Figure 4) formed with a tapered socket 39 at one end (Figure '7)thereof. Arranged within and extending from the socket 39 is a bushingor bearing 40 having the major portion of its inner'facetapered as at 4|and its remaining portion 42 'of uniform diameter. Positioned within thebushing 40, as well asextending laterally from the latter is a pivot orpintle 'member 43 formed of a tapered body 44 arranged in the portion 4|of bearing 40, an inner head 45 seated in the portion 42 of the bearing40, a curved breast 46 upon which is mounted the outer end of thebearing 40, a neck 41 extended from the breast 45 through'the opening 26into the chamber 25 and an outer circular head 48 arranged in thechamber 25 of greater length in diametrical section than the width ofopening 26.

The construction of the pintle member 43 and its arrangement relative tothe bearing 40and inner side 20 of a section I is such as to provide forslidably and pivotally connecting the shiftable hinge member to thestationary hinge member of a hinge. The hinges connected to the lowertray member l2 are for correlation with the upper tray member l3 and themanner in which they correlate with the upper tray member, as well astheir purpose will be hereinafter referred to.

Theupper tray member I3 is open at its top and rear and closed at itssides and front. The member I3 includes a base wall 49 substantially ofsemi-ovoidal contour in plan and of a form corresponding to the basewall of upper impression trays now in general use by dentists. Themember l3 further includes an upstanding flange 50 which at its lowerend merges into the wall 49 at the sides and front edges of such wall.The body of the tray member 13 is formed of any suitable plasticmaterial with an edge reinforcement or hinder 5| of suitable metallicdental material. The binder5l is disposed throughout the top edge andend edges of the flange 50 and portions of the rear edge of wall 49.Embedded at its rear in the wall 49 and directed forwardly from the bodyof the tray member 13 is a retaining stem 52 consisting of a straightintermediate portion 54 formed with spaced openings 55 and a dependingvertically disposed outer end portion 56 and a depending inner portion53. The portion 53 and the inner partof the portion 54 are embedded inthe wall 49. The purpose of the stem 52 will be referred to.

The appliance includes an automatically lengthwise adjustable couplingstructure for the purpose of connecting the upper tray to the shiftablehinge members 31 of the hinges and to permit of one of the traymembersmoving relative to the other when such tray members are coupledtogether. The said structure comprises a pair of spaced parallelcoupling tubes 51 which are integral at their rear ends with theother orupper ends of the arms 38 of the hinge members 31. 'The tubes 51 aredirected forwardly towards the stem 52. Secured to the lowerfa'ce of theWall 49 directly below the portion 53fof the stem and integral therewithis the bight 58 of a U-shaped coupling member 59 which slidablycorrelates with the tubes 51 for coupling the tray member l3 to theshiftable hinge members 3'! of the hinges. The arms of the member 59 areindicated at 50 and are directed rearwardly from the bight 58. The arms60 are disposed in telescopic slidable relation with respect to thetubes 51. Eacharm 6|! has an enlarged forward end Bl which merges intoan end of and offsets the arm 60 downwardly with respect to an end ofthe bight 58, whereby the said arms are spaced from the lower face ofthe wall 49 -to form a clearance for the tubes 51. The tubes 51constituteslide members and the I arms '60 guide members.'- T r 7 Themanner in which the tray member- [3 is coupled with the shiftable hingemembers 51 and the manner in which the said members 51 are connectedwith the tray member l2 permits of the shifting of one tray memberrelative to the other when the appliance is arranged relative to themouth of a person in the manner as shown by Figure 1, or in other words,toprovide for the appliance to function as the human mandible does withthe same degree of accuracy as the appliance may move in unison, forwardor backward, travel in a definite path and act as a rotation center.With its use an impression and bite may be obtained at the same time.

The construction of the appliance as aforesaid gives it a hinge-likemovement to a limited extent employed in opening and closing the mouthfor the introduction thereof. The construction of the appliance, asaforesaid, provides it with a protusive movement employed to determinethe rearranging or changing of the position of the mandible to theproper mastication grooves. The appliance also functions substantiallysimilar to an articulator due to the manner' in which'the trays arehinged together.

The impression material is arranged in the tray members after which theappliance is inserted in the mouth of a person. The moving of the jawsof the person' will provide for the adjusting of one tray memberrelative to the other to dispose such tray members in position forobtaining the desired'impression and bite, after which the tray membersare latched in their adjusted position. The latching of such members ishad by the correlation of a latching pin [i2 with registering openingsof the lip 34 and the stem 52 as is shown in full lines in Figure 1 andin dotted lines in Figure 5. The lip 34 constitutes a support for thestem 52. The element 30 in connection with the stem 52 provides for theholding of the front of the tray member [3 and the front of the couplingstructure in superposed relation with respect to the front of the traymember l2. The shiftable hinge members act to hold the rear of thecoupling structure and rear of tray member 13 in superposed relationwith respect to the rear of the tray member I2.

What I claim is: Y

1. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively to the other, said lower member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid stationary hinge members, and an automatically lengthwiseadjustable coupling structure disposed between said tray members andbeing fixed at one end to said shiftable hinge members and at its otherend to. said upper tray member.

2. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively to the other, said lower member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid sta tionary hinge members, and a horizontally disposed'automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposedbetween said tray members and having its rear end fixed to saidshiftable hinge members and its forward end fixed to said upper traymember.

3. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively to the other, said lower member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid stationary hinge members, an automatically lengthwiseadjustablecoupling structure disposed between said tray members andbeing fixed at one end to said shiftable hinge members and at its otherend to said upper tray member, coacting means on said tray members forsupporting the front of the upper tray member relative to the lower traymember, and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge memberscoacting for supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative tothe lower tray member.

4. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively to the other, said lower member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid stationary hinge members, a horizontally disposed automaticallylengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said traymembers and having its rear end fixed to said shiftable hinge membersand its forward end fixed to said upper tray member, coacting means onsaid tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray memberrelative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure and saidshiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of said uppertray member relative to the lower tray member.

5. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively to the other, said lower member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid stationary hinge members, an automatically lengthwise adjustablecoupling structure disposed between said tray members and being fixed atone end to said shiftable hinge members and at its other end to saidupper tray member, coacting means on said tray members for supportingthe front of the upper tray member relative to the lower tray member,and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge members coactingfor supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative to the lowertray member, the said coacting means being so formed for receiving atselective points thereof a latching means to arrest the shifting of oneof said tray members relative to the other.

6. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, anupper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation withrespect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of movingin different paths relatively'to the other, said lower. member havingopposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hingemembers, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected tosaid stationary hinge members, a horizontally disposed automaticallylengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said traymembers and having its rear end fixed to said shiftable hinge membersand its forward end fixed to said upper tray member, coacting means onsaid tray members for supporting the front of the upper traymemberrelative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure andsaid shiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of saidupper tray member relative to the lower tray member, the said coactingmeans being so formed for receiving at coacting selective points thereofa latching means to arrest the shifting of one of said tray membersrelative to the other.

7. The invention as set forthby claim 1 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

8. The invention as set forth by claim 2 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

9. The invention as set forth by claim 3 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

10. The invention as set forth by claim 4 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

11. The invention as set forth by claim 5 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers anda yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

12. The invention as set forth by claim 6 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes.

13. In a dental appliance lower and upper impression tray membersdisposed in superposed spaced relation, said tray members beingautomatically adjust-able relatively to each other, hinge means at therear of and extending upwardly from said lower tray member, said meansincluding a pair of stationary parts fixed to the lower tray member anda pair of shiftable parts pivotally and slidably connected to saidstationary parts, and an automatically lengthwise adjustable couplingstructure interposed between said tray members and having one end fixedto said shiftable parts and its other end fixed to the bottom of saidupper tray member.

14. In a dental appliance lower and upper impression tray membersdisposed in superposed spaced relation, said tray members beingautomatically adjustable relatively to each other, hinge means at therear of and extending upwardly from said lower tray member, said meansincluding a pair of stationary parts fixed to the lower tray member anda pair of shiftable parts pivotally and slidably connected to saidstationary parts, an automatically lengthwise adjustable couplingstructure interposed between said tray members and having one end fixedto said shiftable parts and its other end fixed to the bottom of saidupper tray member, and coacting means on said tray members forsupporting the front of the upper tray member over and spaced from saidlower tray member, said coacting means being so formed for receiving alatching means to arrest the adjusting of the tray members relative toeach other and for holding the tray members in adjusted relation, andsaid shiftable parts and coupling structure coacting for supporting therear of the upper tray member over and spaced from the lower traymemebr.

15. The invention as set forth by claim 1 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement witha said tubes, the said arms of said yoke-shaped parts being disposed inoffset relation with respect to the lower face of said upper traymember.

16 The invention as set forth by claim 2 having said coupling structureconsisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hingemembers and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said uppertray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement withsaid tubes, the said arms of said yoke-shaped part being disposed inoffset relation with respect to the lower face of said upper traymember.

17. A dental appliance comprising lower and upper impression traymembers disposed in superposed spaced relation, a pair of spacedparallel downwardly ofiset rearwardly extending guide members carried byand disposed below said upper tray member, and a pair of spaced parallelupwardly ofiset forwardly extending tubular slide members pivotally andslidably connected with said lower tray member, arranged over the latterand having slidably mounted therein said guide members.

18. A dental appliance comprising lower and upper impression traymembers disposed in superposed spaced relation, a pair of spacedparallel downwardly offset rearwardly extending guide members carried byand disposed below said upper tray member, a pair of spaced parallelupwardly ofiset forwardly extending tubular slide members pivotally andslidably connected with said lower tray member, arranged over the latterand having slidably mounted therein said guide members, means forsupporting the front of the upper tray member over and spaced from thelower tray member, and said guide and slide members providing forsupporting the rear of the upper tray member over and spaced from said alower tray member.

MATTHEW J. LOVER.

